Hoisting and conveying machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. E. BROWN.

Hoisting and Oonveying Mah in e. No. 232,236. Pat ented Sept. 14, 1880"PETERS, PHOTO-LUflDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D

momoael.) '3 Sheets-411661; 2. A. E, BROWN. Hoistingand ConveyingMachine. v

" Patented Sept. 14,1880.

' 6 awwwm.

PLPETERS PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER WASHINGTON, D c.

(No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet s.

A. E. BROWN. Hoisting and Conveying Machine.

No. 232,236. Patented Sept. 14, 18 80.

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' HlllQQIhFM M12555 fizz 21 m M I. gmwb 206 NTTE STATES ALEXANDER E.BROWN,

PATENT FFICE.

OF OLEVE LAND, OHIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,236, datedSeptember 14, 1880.

, Application filed June 24, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that. I, ALEXANDER E. BROWN, ofCleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Hoisting and Conveying Machines;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification.

Previous to my invention machines or apparatus forhoistin g or raisingcoal, ore, earths, &c., from vessels, mines, and other placcs,andtransferring the same to piers, cars, and other localities orreceptacles, have been devised of different constructions and in variousforms;

but in all such previous machines or contriv ances of which I have anyknowledge either the principle of construction or the mode of operation,or both, has been imperfect or defective in some one or moreparticulars, and to such a degree as to render such machines. incapableof performing satisfactorily the work for which they have been designed.

In view of the fact that a machine or contrivance designed for thepurposes for which my invention is designed must, in order to meet allthe practical requirements of such an apparatus, embody agreat many andvcry pe culiar characteristics of structure and operation, it is notremarkable that no machine has heretofore been made to meet fully allthese requirements satisfactorily; and it is the main object of myinvention to provide one which shall do so either completely or at leastto a far greater extent than has heretofore been attained.

From the following -nained qualifications and capacities, which appearto me to be necessary to a perfectly-successful machine for the purposesalluded to, it will be seen that many-and in some measureconflicting-peculiarities of construction and operation must be combinedin the one contrivance to make it practically successful. In the firstplace the machine must be perfectly adapted to be applied to and toperform successfully all the operations required of it while supportedupon any one of the cheap forms of tram way-such, for instance, as asuspended wire cable or rail track. In the next place it must be adapted(N0 model.)

to be operated on so as to perform all its designed functions by meansof motive power derived from a source located at a greater or lessdistance from the machine and beyond its limits of travel, and at thesame time be adapted to effect the transference of the load from itsoriginal locality to its place of final deposit with the least possiblechanges in the direction of motion of the motive device and the fewestpossible cessations of motion in said device. In the next place, duringthe accomplishment of the object just above re ferrcd to, it must becapable of hoisting, carrying along to some distantlocality the load,and then either discharging or first lowering and then dumping thematerial, and while in the performance of all these operations must beunder the perfect control of the operator (who is at some givenlocality) as to the regulation of all these operations. In the nextplace, while the performance of all its functions is under the controlof the operator, it must be capable of operating an tomatically andrapidly du ri n g an y and all of the movemeuts'ofits working parts. Inthe next place the machine must be as light and strong as possible, withthe fewest numberof parts and the least liabilityof (lo-- rangementunder the rough usage to which such machines are naturally subjected,and while being of such construction that all its actions are positiveand certain in their nature, it must at the same time involve such amode of operation that whenever any sudden change in the direction ofmotion of the load being carried has to occur, instead of the necessityfor the presence (as usual heretofore) of springbumpers or other meansfor taking up the momentum of the suddenly-shifted load, the inertia ofthe load itself shall take up or assist in overcoming any shock to whichany of the parts of the apparatus might otherwise be subjected; and,finally, the organization must be such that all the before-mentionedpositive movements of the parts during all the automatic operations ofthe machine shall be derived directly from the bodily movement of theapparatus.

I will now proceed to more fully explain .whcrein I have, I believe,embodied in a successfully-operative organism all of the above recitedprerequisites of a desirable contrivance for the designed purposes of myinvention, and will, by reference to the accompanying drawings, makingpart of this specification, so describe my invention as to enable thoseskilled in the art to make and use the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partial side view of one ofmy improved hoisting and conveying machines adapted for use on and shownas applied to a wire cable or suspended flexible rail-track, such asheretofore commonly employed, but having the dumping attachment omittedto avoid unnecessary complication in thisfigurc of thedi'awings. Figs. 2and 3 are detail skeleton views, representing modifications of certainparts of the contrivance seen at Fig. 1, and which will be hereinafteralluded to. Fig. 4- is a side view, showing the whole apparatus, and ona smaller scale than that of Fig. 1, while Fig. 5 is a detail view ofcertain parts seen in Fig. L and on the scale of said figure. Fig. 6 isa detail sectional view at the line w 90 of" Fig. 4 on an increasedscale, and designed to more clearly illustrate the clamping device seenin elevation at said last-mentioned figure; and Fig. 8 represents, inside and edge views, the hoist block and sheave having a spring-likeattachment for the hook, as for a purpose to be presently explained; andFig. 7 is a diagram for purposes of more intelligible explanationhereinafter of certain principles of operation involved in the machine.

In the several figures I have denoted the same parts wherever they occurby the same reference-letters r r r The parts B B, (J (l, and Dconstitute the carriage-frame proper, which is provided at its upperportion, as shown, with two traveling or cable sheaves, E E, that bearand travel on the cable-way a.

F is the hoisting-rope, one end of which is secured, preferably asrepresented, to a projecting portion, F*, of the carriage-frame, saidrope being passed thence beneath and partially around the sheave F ofthe hoisting block, thence partially around and over a sheave, F,journaled in the carriage-frame, as shown, (or, if deemed expedient,having its axis coincident with that of the pin B and thence off to thesource of the lifting-power.

The parts 0 and C of the carriage-frame are extended out-ward from thelatter in opposite directions, as seen at C and O for the double purposeof balancing, respectively, the parts (J and O, and also the partD,jointed thereto, and to form, in connection with the part D and thestops arranged at the ends of the line of travel of the machine on thecable a, a means for actuating the parts of the machine to produce thenecessary changes in the directions of its motions.

The stops are seen at G and G, the first named being the upgrade and thelast menv.tioned the downgrade stop, and each made and arranged as willbe presently explained.

11 H are two levers formed or provided with hook-like lower port-ions,as shown, and arranged to move about a common fulcrum which iscoincident with the pivotal pin B of the carriage-frame. The hook-likeportions of the said levers serve to retain the load to be manipulatedin a suspended condition, and this suspension of the load is effected,preferably, by causing these hook-like devices to partially embrace andhold directly onto the laterallyqirojecting lugs l, which are coincidentwith the arbor or journal of the hoistingsheave F and which in practiceI propose to have form mere outward extensions of the ends of saidsheave-arbor.

The upper portions of the lovers H H are made, preferably, as shown atFig. 1, so that their upper ends may pass freely between rollers O andG, mounted on the portions 0 and 0, near their adjacent ends, and sothat any vertical movement downward of the said rollers will cause theupper ends of said levers to be forced nearer together and their lowerhook-like portions to be separated, to release the lugs or pins I of thehoisting-sheave, while a reverse movement of the said rollers will causean opposite movement of the said levers to effect a re-engagement oftheir hooklike portions with the said hoisting-sheave arbor I.

The portion D of the carriage-frame, before alluded to, is made orprovided with a downwardly-extended portion, (marked D,) which isbifurcated at its lower end to straddle the pin I, and which thus servesto laterally retain said pin in the proper position, said part D D ofthe frame being slotted or yoked around the pin or anchor B in orderthat it may freely move up and down around said pin.

As is clearly shown, the partD is in pivotal connection with each of theparts (3 and 0 at the points where the rollers O and C are mounted, thusforming knee-joints at said points, and the several parts 13 B, C 0 O 0and D D forming a lever system, the relative movements of the parts ofwhich are limited by the extent of motion to which th slotted part I) Dis restricted by the pin B Each of the extended portions 0 and C of theframe is adapted to so operate, in conjunction with certain devices withwhich the up and down grade stops on the cable-way are re spectivelyprovided, that at the arrival of the carriage at either of those stopsthe parts 0 G and C (J will be caused to turn on their rep e t'ulcra, Band B and effect a downward thrust of the part I) D to the extent-of itsrestricted movement.

G and G represent, respectively, the upgrade and downgrade stops, eachof which is secured in some proper manner to the cableway a at theproper locality. I have shown these stops as being secured to the cablea by means of a clamping contrivance, and in such manner as to be.capable of adjustment in the direction of the length of the cable, aswill be presently more fully explained, said stops being supported bysheaves E which bear on ITS top of the cable and have their weight sodis posed as to bring their centers of gravity below the cable.

G is a projecting portion of the frame of the stop device G, that isadapted to serve as an abutment against which apart of thecarriage-frame will strike as it travels upward on the cable, and bywhich the upward movement of said carriage-frame will be arrested.

G is a hook-like projection, lug, or other suitable device, the officeand effect of which is to catch and retain the carriage, should it tendto start downgrade before a proper en gagement of the hoist'block stud lwith the retaining-hooks of levers H H, by an engagement of said hook Gwith the roller O or some other projecting device of the part G of thecarriage-frame.

In the end of another extension, G, of the stop-frame G is pivoted alever, G G the normal position of which (by its gravity) is nearly orquite vertical, and the extent of oscillation of which is limited tothepositiou of the lever shown at Fig. 1, by a suitable stop shoulderformed at G, as per dotted lines. The longer arm, G of this lever formsan inclined plane, up which the roller 0 of part 0 has to ride as thecarriage-frame approaches its uppen most destination, and which servesto affect the proper manipulation of said .part to operate thehoist-block-releasing devices.

F is a sheave hung in the stopframe G, as shown, and designed simply toguide the hoistropc properly in any and all positions in which saidstop-frame may be set. It is not indispensable to the stopframe, but itspresence is desirable for the purpose alluded to.

G is the downgrade-stop frame, which is somewhat differentin form fromthe other stop-frame, and which also differs therefrom in its mode ofoperation, as will now be explained. It is provided at G with aprojection, which, when brought into action, serves the same purpose asthat, G, of the other stop, and has a roller, pin, or other suitableprojecting device at G, against which the inclined extension Y of part 0strikes, and by which said part is operated in the same manner and forthe same purpose that the part 0 of the carriage-frame is operated bythe longer arm of lever G of the stop-frame G, while the roller 3 alsoserves, in cooperation with a hook-like portion, of the part 0 toprevent any premature movement of the carriageframe along the cable a.In this downgradestop mechanism, however, the operation, uir like thatof the upgrade-stop G, is such that, except when the grade and velocityare such as that the momentum will be exactly taken up by the opening ofthe releasing devices, which does not often occur, the releasement ofthe load occurs just before the frame comes into contact with stop G andtherefore, the tendency of the combined action of the descending loadand pull on the hoist-rope being to reverse the direction of travel ofthe carriage,

the hook C is brought up against and pulls on the roller G instead ofthe stop G coming into action.

Before specifying the general operation of the apparatus 1 deem itproper and desirable, in explanation of my novel machine, to brieflyexplain the novel principle operation on which it is designed to work,and this I can most readily explain by special reference to the diagramor skeleton view which I have drawn at Fig. 7. By a reference to thisfigure or diagram it will be seen that the effect of the weight of thehoistblock and the load suspended therefrom is to induce a strain orforce in a direction cmresponding to the downward direction of mot-ionof the part D D of the carriageframe, (which, as before explained, is,in reality, asystem of levers,) and that the effect of this force is thesame as if applied during all positions of the said block F and its loaddirectly to the fulcrum or point B that this force thus applied at Balways tends to bring the points B and B nearer together, assum-' ingthat these points of the frame-work are prevented from descending ormoving in the direction of motion to which the load inclines, which isthe case by reason of the framesheaves E and E, which rest on thecable-way a, sustaining the points B and B, and that thus theknee-joints, as I have called them at U" 1 are subjected always to acompressive straini. 0., a force tending to move these points towardeach othcrand will tend to move either vertically upward or verticallydouuiward, accordingly as its position to start will be either above orbelow a right line passing through or connecting the two points B and Bof the system. The extent to which the kneejoint can move in eitherdirection will, of course, be determined by the extent of motion ofwhich the slotted device I) I) may be capable, and it will be seen thatwhen at its lowest position said device is subjected to a compressiveforce, while when atits highest position it is subjected to a tensilestrain.

It will be observed that any force operating to cause the knee-joint atG G to move from either direction toward a right line running from B toB will tend to force farther apart the pivotal points B B andconsequently will tend to lift the point B from which the load issuspended, and that the result of this tend ency is, that after havingarrived at and passed the said line, (or the dead-eenter, so to speak,)the weight of the load will then operate to assist the movementof theknee-joint toward either ofits limits of upward and downward motion.

Now, it will be seen that any construction and detail arrangement ofparts involving the described principle of operation, and in which theload will be directly suspended from the carriage-frame, as described,when the kneejoint portions are at the limit of their motion in onedirection, and in which the said load will be suspended indirectly fromsaid carriageframe through the medium of the hoist-rope when saidknee-joint portions are at the limit of their motion in the otherdirection, will necessarily embody the gist ofmy invention.

The following will suffice for a description of the general operation ofthe machine: Supposing the carriage to be at the upgradestop G, as seenat Fig. 1, and the load to be suspended on the hook-like portions oflevers H H, and imagining the downgrade-stop G to be located somedistance off, the hoist rope F is paid out, in the direction indicatedby the arrow at Fig. 1, and the carriage, with its sus pendedhoist-block F and load, is permitted to descend the cable-way a bygravity. V hen it starts on its descent there is no appreciableimpediment offered to its movement by the device Gr G because the upperend of the lever is turned over by the action of roller O, which simplyrides over it, when said lever by gravity assumes a vertical position.

\Vhen the carriage-frame arrives at the downgrade-stop G it either abutsagainst the pro jection G and can go no farther, or before that isoperated upon, as already described; but in coming to this position theinclined portion 0 of the frame rides onto the roller G, whose axis isstationary, and is forced upward, the device O in the meantime beingcarried up in rear of the roller G.

The lifting up of the arm 0 effects a depression of the part D D, and aconsequent opening of the retai ning-hooks and releasement ot' the arborI of the hoist-block, from which the load is suspended, so that theweight of the hoist-block and load comes onto hoist-rope F and exerts atendency to force the carriage back upgrade again; but any such movementis prevented by the retaining device coming against the projection orroller G of the stopframe G, and the carriage-frame is forced to remainin the position at which it arrived during the descent, and until thereturn upward of the hoist-block. \Vhen, by a reversal of the motion ofthe hoist-rope F, the hoist-block and load shall have been raised upagain, the pin I passes on up between. the separated tlared lower ends,H II, ot'the hookdevers, and said pin then striking up into the crotchof the lower bifurcated end of the device D D will force the latter up,thereby raising the knee-joints at 0 (J and releasing the hold of thepart 0 on roller G, so that the carriage frame can begin to move upgradeat the initial movement of the carriage. However, the arbors I settledown onto the sustaininghooks, and the parts all present the conditionrepresented at Fig. 1, in which they were at the start, and thecarriage, with its suspended load, is drawn back to the point from whichit started. v

It must be remarked, however, that when the releasement of the load andthe engagement of the carriage-frame with the downgrade-stop G tookplace, the momentum of the carriage and load acquired in arriving at theend of the downgrade was absorbed by the necessary lifting of the loadnecessary to accomplish the releasement of the suspended hoist-block,and that therefore no portions of the contrivance were subject to anysudden shock. or strain by either the stoppage of the onward travel ofthe machine and load or the sudden releasement of the latter and itsdescent, the weight of the released hoist-block and load coming onto thehoist-rope and partially onto the carriageframe just at the time itsinertia had been about used up, to assist in the releasing operation;

Supposing, now, the carriage to be carried with its suspendedhoist-block and load upgrade for the deposit of its load at that point,the hoist-rope is drawn in a direction oppo' site to that at firstmentioned, and when the carriage shall have been drawn up to thestopfra-me Gr the roller 0, riding up 011 lever G will effect theturning of part C O on pivot B, the consequent depression of thekneejoints at U G and the releasement of the suspended hoist-block pinI, the carriage-frame meantime coming to a stop against the project-ionG and then, by a reversal of the mo tion of the hoist-rope F, the loadis permitted to descend. In this uppermostposition of the carriage-framethere may, under certain circumstances, (when, for instance, the gravityof the load is not sufficient to keep the carriageframe forced upagainst the stop (3d,) be a liability of the carriage to move downwardon the cable (6. To prevent any such movement I provide the catch-likeprojection G which, in the event of any inclination of thecarriaget'rame to leave its position during the descent of thehoist-block and load, will engage with the roller (or other projectionfor the pur pose) on arm 0 and effect the retention of thecarriage-frame in place.

It will be seen from the foregoing explanations that all the requisitemovements of the loadmay be effected with the least possible reversalsin the direction of motion of the device through which the motive poweris applied to the machine.

At Figs. 2 and 3 are shown two of many forms of device that may beemployed as mere substitutes for the swinging lever Gr G pivoted to theupgrade-stop frame and co-operating with the rollered arm In the deviceillustrated at Fig. 2 the piece Gr is attached or pivoted to the arm Cinstead of to the stop G, the said stop being provided in this case witha pin or roller, 0. 'lhebroken outline of O and its piece G shows theposition as it reaches the stop Gr, G being thrown backward by the pinor roller 0 until 0 rests against the stop G, in which position G formsan inclined plane moving up on the roller until the end is cleared of orpast when the arm 0 is at its uppermost limit, or the hooks at H H, Fig.1, are open, and G then swings by gravity to the vertical position shownin the drawings. (J can now be freely depressed,

and G" will swing over the roller 0 as the carriage again goesdowngrade.

In the arrangement shown at Fig. 3 the arm 0 is extended downward, asshown at C and a swinging piece, G is pivoted to the stopframe G, asillustrated. The swinging end of G is notched out, as shown, to form aseat for pin 0 of arm 0 to butt against, and as the carriage is furthermoved upgrade the lever G will be turned up toward and into the positionshown in fulllincs at Fig. 3, said lever, in turn, operating to lift up(by means of pin G) the end of piece 0 C until the lower forward part ofcoming into contact with a pin or projection, G, of said lever G beginsto act on said lever, its action having the effect to further move leverG and unseat the pin 0 thus permitting the part C O to be forced backagain to its former lowermost position, in which it will be free totravel back again downgrade with the carriage-frame. In coming downagain the lever G is arrested and retained in position by a stop at G bywhich it is held in proper position for action whenever thecarriage-frame shall again be brought upgrade.

In this form of contrivance the parts G and G it will be seen, are thesame as shown at Fig. 1, and from the examples given it will be seenthat various forms and combinations of devices may be employed asequivalents for the performance of those functions of the apparatuswhich relate to automatic movements necessary at the time of the arrivalof the carriage at the upgrade-stop G.

It is also apparent that the form and precise arrangement shown of theparts composing the carriage-frame, with its knee-joints, hook-likesuspension-levers, 850., maybe varied without substantially changing theprinciple of construction of the machine. For instance, the points B 13*might be located above instead of below the cable-way a, and might be atthe axes of the sheaves E E, in which case it would become necessarywith regard to the stop frames to merely change their relative locationto the cable and the carriage devices to render the machine capable ofall its present operations.

In lieu of the extensions 0 and C of the parts 0 and 0, separate andindependent levers or other devices might be employed to operate on theknee-joints, or suitably-constructed parts might be formed or applied tothe stop-frames G and G, that would, by direct application to theknee-joints at 0 G raise and lower the part D D at the proper times andin the right manner.

The levers H H may, of course, be operated by other means than thoseshown, and inlieu of the four hook-levers shown a less number may beemployed, though I have preferred to use four, or at least two, in orderthat in the movement of said hooks to release the hoistblock journals Ino tendency can occur which might operate (by frictional contact betweenthe spindle I and any one hook) to draw the arbor I to one side, andthus embarrass the quick and perfect releasement of the hoistblock.

The details of the construction of the hooklevers and of its connectionswith the hoistblock may be varied; but I consider it important that thepoints or axis of suspension be coincident with the center-pin of thesheave F of said block, for reasons which I will presently state; and itwill be understood that this peculiarity of my machine may be appliedwith great advantage to machines in other respects substantiallydiiferent from mine.

During the hoisting of the block F with its suspended load both the loadand block are usually subject to a swinging motion of greater or lessextent, most of which is in a plane about at right angles to the axis ofthe hoistblock and about an axis of motion that is substantiallycoincident with the axis of the sheave F Therefore the projections I (orothers about in line with them) constitute points or places ofconnection that will most certainly and easily come into readyengagement with any hook-like or other engaging mechanism or device,since any device located at the point I will be least affected by thegyrations or swinging movements of the load and hoist-block at the timethe latter reaches (on its ascent) the engaging mechanism.

In the use of the 'machine made as I have so far explained it, therewould be more or less of sudden strains or jars on the suspending-hooksthat hold the hoist-block lugs or pins I both at the time of theengagement of the block with the hooks (when the load has been hoisted)on account of the seating of the weighted pins I on the hooks, andduring the travel of the heavily loaded carriage along the cable-way a,in consequence of the vibrations of the cable-way. To partially orwholly overcome any such objectionable shocks or sudden strains on theparts of the apparatus, I have provided it with an elastic attachment ofthe hook of the hoist-block.

This mode of attachment of the usual K- hook, as it is called, may, ofcourse, with equal advantage, be applied to machines difiering from minein other respects, and the elastic medium may consist of either a rubberor metallic spring like device, an air-cushion, or other suitable meansfor effecting a slightlyyielding connection between the block and itshook.

At Fi 8 will be seen a preferable form of yielding connection.

In the form here shown the hook K is pivoted at K to a piece which issecured at its upper end to the top plate, K that rests on the uppersurface of a rubber spring or cushion, K and said cushion is supportedby a bottom plate, K, which is, in turn, held by the lower ends of astirrup-piece, K the top and arch-like portion of which is pivoted at Kto the straps K of the block.

I will now describe the means I have devised and applied for effectingthe dumping automatically of the load, where it may be necessary to usea dumping contrivance, and for easily and effectually securing thestop-frames at any desired and different points to the cable way.

At Fig. 4, in which is shown,in side elevation, an entireapparatus,ineludin g aelampin g and dumpin g mechanism, all of thepreferable form, n n is a bent lever, pivoted to any suitable portion ofthe carriage-frameas, for instance, at B -and to the upper end of saidlever is jointed one end of a lever or bar, 02 that is free to turn onits pivotal point, but which, in its normal condition, rests on top of aprojection or supporting-lug, a", of the carriageframe.

The bar a is formed or provided with stops a which come against thesupporting-lug a", when said bar may be moved endwise and operate torestrict or limit such endwise movement of the bar, in a manner and forthe purpose to be presently explained.

a is a bar or rod, (which may be made either of a given length orcapable of adjustment to various lengths,) pivoted near its upper end tothe lower end of the bent lever a a, and suitably shaped at its top tobe operated on by the guides at in such manner as to cause an outwardmovement of its upper end during its ascent, for the purpose of swingingits lower end inward or toward the dumping-bucket m the properengagement of the lower stirruplike end of said rod with iLliG'OHtG-Iend of the catch an of the bucket, and the lifting up of the same tounlock the bucket and permit it to dump.

The catch-bar m is, as usual, hinged to the bail m of the bucket m, andthe edge of the bucket is provided at m with the usual projection orroller, with which the notched outer end of the arm m engages in themanner well known.

The lower end of the device a is preferably made, as shown at a, in theform of a stirrup flexibly attached to the rigid lower end of saiddevice of, in such manner that said stirrup can vibrate or swing in adirection away from the bucket; and I' have deemed it expedient to havethe parts n and n" adj ustably connected, so that it may be adapted foruse in connection with different d um pin gbuckets havingdifferently-formed catch-bars of various lengths.

The shape of the devices a a and their arrangement with the lower end ofbent lever a a maybe better understood, perhaps, by reference, also, toFig. 5.

In the operation of the automatic dumping mechanism, assuming thecarriage-frame to be approaching the upgrade-stop, and that the load isto be there discharged, the devices a 12 would be in a disengagedcondition relatively to the catch-lever m and the latter would have thebucket locked, as indicated by the dotted lines at Fig. 4, and duringthe approach of the carriage to the stop-frame G the free end of bar awould come into'contact with a projection, a on the stop-frame. As thecarriage comes to a stop by reason of the bar 11' having been pushedback until its foremost stop, it, comes to a dead-lock with thecarriage-frame and its lug a, the bentlever a n, it will be seen, willhave been turned 011 its axis at B and the devices a a thereby lifted;but in the initial lifting movement of these devices the operation onthe curved upper end of n, effected by the guides u will have caused thelower portion, a, of the devices to swing toward the bucket m and wellunder the outer end of the catch-bar 0229, so that during the ascent ofa the said catchbar at will be lifted up, as shown at Fig. 4, and thebucket unlocked, that it may turn over and dump its contents in theusual manner of such buckets. Upon the movement of the carriage awayfrom the stop-frame the parts will all resume their original positionsand the bucket will become relocked.

In cases where it may be desired to lower the bucket without dumping,the described antomatic operations may be prevented by simply turning upand fastening in an inoperative condition the actuating-bar a and tofacilitate this said bar may be made with a hook, as at a by which itmaybe hitched or tied up to some convenient part of the carriage-frame.

If desired, the devices a a may also be swung up and fastened out of theway. By the use of the curved upper end of a in connection'with theguides of, not only is the stirrup a caused to swing properly under thecatch to be lifted before it is lifted up to said catch, as alreadyexplained, but the devices a n are also prevented by said guides at fromswinging aboutand interfering with the bucket or hoisting-block, 850.The stirrup a being free to swing away from the bucket, there is nodanger of any accidental operation of the catch-bar m in the event ofany swinging to and fro of the bucket and the other carriageattachments, and all the automatic dumping mechanism being attached tothe traveling carriagei'rame, this mechanism must necessarily always bein place and in the proper condition for operation when the dumping ofthe bucket may be desired.

As the gravity of the upgrade-stop G is sufficient to effect thenecessary movements of the automatic dumping mechanism, without anysecurement of said stop-frame to the cable-way a, the dumping of theload may be effected at various desired points along the line of upwardtravel of the carriage-frame by simply allowing the stop-frame G to rundown to or by pulling it up to any desired place along the cable-way,which adjustment of said stop-frame may be produced by either paying outor hauling in the tail-rope T. (See Fig. 4:.)

In cases where there may be no necessity for afrequent adjustment of thestops, or where the time requisite to move and resecure them adjustablestops is concerned, various devices is of no moment, any simple form ofropeclamp T, bolted to the cable a, together with a suitable bumper, T,coupled to the stop by a chain, T all, for instance, as seen at thelefthand side of Fig. 4, will answer; but in most casesit is quitenecessary to frequently change the location of the stops on the cable a,and the want of some means for and method of conveniently and rapidlydoing this has long been desired.

The means I have devised for this important purpose I have shown in thepreferable form at the right-hand side of Fig. 4 and in a detailcrosssection at Fi f. It may be such that the necessary operations canbe effected through the medium of the hoisting-machine mechanism orthrough the medium of means under the control of the man on the groundat the rear end of the cable. I will describe it as represented in thedrawings, where it will be seen that the stop-frame and the clamp proper(shown at S) are so connected by a slotted bar, S, that the stop-frameis capable of some motion on the cableway (6 independently of the clamp,and that the whole is supported upon and free to travel together whenthe clamp is loosened by means of the three sheaves E E E On theframe-bars S (see Fig. 6) are pivoted two pairs of sheararms, S and 8,arranged a short distance apart, the upper ends of which arms carry theclamping-jaws designed to gripe the cable a, and the lower ends of whichare provided with right and left hand screw-nuts. Each clamping-jaw iscomposed, as shown, of a metallic portion, S, carrying a block of woodor other suitable material, S adapted to be pressed onto and take a firmgrasp on the cable in opposition to a similar jaw, and between the lowerends of the pairs of shear-arms is a chain-wheel, S, the shaft 5 ofwhich, being keyed fast to the hub of said wheel, has cut on itsopposite ends right and left hand screw-threads, which work insimilarly-cut threads in the nuts 8*.

Over the wheel S is placed adrive-chain, S, and to the rear part of theframe-bars S is attached a rope, T, by means of which the clamping andstop frames may be drawn up and allowed to run down on the cable (byhauling in and paying out said rope) at will.

T is a bumper-spring or rubber cushion attached to the rearmost part ofthe stop-frame G, and adapted to come against the clamp S, when madefast, to take up any jar in stopping the carriage-frame.

It will be seen that by simply manipulating the drive-chain S, which mayextend down ward, as shown, or off to any desired locality, so as toturn the chain-wheel S in one direc tion or the other, the clamping-jawsmay be closed upon or made to release their gripe of the cable a atpleasure.

It will, however, be understood that, so far as the feature of myinvention relating to the and combinations of devices other than thoseshown may be employed to accomplish the purposes described, the gist ofmy invention in this particularconsisting in theemployment, inconnection with the stop-franies (or eitherof them) of the machine, of asuitable means for clamping or securing the frames in a given 10- calityon the cable through the medium of devices manipulated at a considerabledistance from the clamping device, as set forth.

Having now fully explained the nature of my invention, so that oneskilled in the art can understand and practice it, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a hoisting and conveying contrivance, a carriage-frame adapted tobe supported and to travel on acable or rail way, and composed of asystem of levers, such as described, that the weight of the suspendedload exerts a tendency to retain the parts in each of the two conditionsthey must assume to retain and to release the suspension of thehoisting-block and load, as set forth.

2. In a conveying contrivance, a carriageframe for supporting andadapted to release the suspended load, so made and operating, asdescribed, that in arriving at the downgradestop the momentum willgradually be absorbed either in the effort of lifting the load which hasto be made, in order to effect its releasement from the suspending-hooksof the carriage, or partially by such effort and partially by the pullof the hoist-rope on the carriagein a reverse direction by thereleasement of the load, as set forth.

3. In combination with the carriage provided with any suitable means ofengagement with the block to be suspended, a hoist-block having the lugsor other devices designed to be held by such means of engagement locatedabout coincident with the axis of the hoistblock sheave.

4. In combination with the carriage, a downgrade-stop device and meanson the carriage for engaging therewith, the combination being andoperating so that the combined action of the carriage and stop deviceseffect, first, the operation of the weight-suspending mechanism andarrest or partial arrest of the carriages travel, in the mannerdescrihed,and, second, the retention of the carriage against the pull ofthe hoist-rope, as set forth.

5. The combination, with the carriage-frame provided with load retainingand releasing devices, and an upgrade-stop frame provided with a fixedabutment for the carriage, of a means for operating the releasingmechanism, which does not interfere with either the subsequent operationof said mechanism in reengaging the load or the subsequent returnmovement of the carriage and all its attachments.

6. The combination, with a cable-way or track adapted for use in aconveying or hoist ingand conveying apparatus, and a stop-frame adaptedto be applied thereto, of means, substantially such as described, forcffectinga securement to and releasement from said cable 5 of said stop,which may be operated at a distance from the cable, as and for thepurposes set forth.

7. The combination, with the carriage-frame andload-carrying receptacleorbucketattached IO thereto in a conveying appa'atus, of an automaticdumping mechanism composed of devices substantially such as described,arranged and operating in the manner setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14th dayof June, 1880. 15

ALEX. E. BROWN. 1,. s.]

In presence of JACOB FELBEL, HARRY J ANVIER.

